Freshly Pressed Mulled Apple Cider

Simmering freshly juiced apples with a bit of lemon juice and warm spices yields a delicious mulled cider with the perfect amount of sweetness. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll never settle for bottled apple cider again!

Ingredients:

  • 18 Gala apples, about 7 1/4 lb. total, cored
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 zest strips from a navel orange, each about 1 inch wide
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 cloves
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Directions:

Juice the apples in an electric juicer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour into a 4-quart saucepan. Add the lemon juice, orange zest strips, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla bean. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes.

Strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof serving vessel. Ladle into mugs and serve immediately. Serves 6.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.